United Nations: 12 staff members leave Sana'a after being held, while the Houthis retain 53 others

The United Nations announced on Wednesday that 12 of its staff members were able to leave the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, on a humanitarian flight, after being held inside one of its compounds for more than a week, while 53 other staff members remain in detention by the Houthi group.

In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the organization clarified that the flight was carried out through its humanitarian air transport services, noting that three additional staff members were granted freedom of movement and travel after being partially released.

The statement confirmed that the de facto authorities in Sana'a continue to arbitrarily detain dozens of UN workers, along with employees of non-governmental organizations and representatives of civil society and some diplomatic missions, in a clear violation of international law.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, renewed his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, considering that what happened represents a serious breach of diplomatic immunities and the international norms governing the work of humanitarian organizations.

The Houthi group had stormed a UN compound in Sana'a last Saturday, detaining local and international staff, in an incident described by the organization as the most serious in years, raising significant concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers inside Yemen.

This escalation comes amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where more than two-thirds of the population relies on international aid, while relief agencies face increasing challenges in Houthi-controlled areas, most notably the restrictions imposed on movement and access to those in need.